Development & Revitalization

The North 24th Street Business Improvement District (BID) continues deployment of its $2 Million Facade Improvement and Building Restoration Grant (FIBRG) program. The initiative provides funding to local business owners and property holders along the historic commercial corridor to restore architectural exteriors, improve lighting, and update signage.

Why It Matters to Black Omaha: North 24th Street has historically been the economic and cultural heartbeat of Black Omaha. Investing directly into brick-and-mortar small businesses preserves Black commercial heritage while stimulating foot traffic, tourism, and neighborhood pride.

NORTH OMAHA — Across North Omaha, long-promised reinvestment is taking concrete shape, anchored by a historic, multi-phase transformation at 34th and Evans Streets.

Leading this neighborhood-wide momentum is the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, which is advancing plans for a $120 million, 20-acre mixed-use campus at the birthplace of civil rights icon Malcolm X.

The centerpiece of the redevelopment is the Malcolm X Cultural Center and Museum. Backed by a $20 million state grant through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the planned 30,000-square-foot facility is designed as a destination for visitors, researchers, and community members.

The project has entered a critical milestone as Phase II architectural and engineering Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are active to select the design team that will shepherd the center through schematic design and construction documents. Led by MX Development Group and Executive Director JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, the master plan envisions:

• Cultural Center & Museum ($40M Anchor Phase): Highlighting the life, legacy, and lineage of Malcolm X and his parents, Earl and Louise Little, alongside interactive educational exhibits.
• Phased Mixed-Use Campus ($100M–$120M Total Buildout): Incorporating affordable housing units, a financial incubator to support local entrepreneurs, an outdoor amphitheater, public green space, and a themed hotel.
• Timeline: Phase II engineering and site prep lead toward an anticipated groundbreaking in mid-2027, with doors targeted to open around 2030.

The expansion of North Omaha Music and Arts (NOMA) is a major component of the ongoing revitalization of the historic North 24th Street corridor. Led by executive director Dana Murray, the project seeks to build on NOMA's existing facility to establish a premier destination for music education, live performances, and community gathering.

Core expansion details:

• $20 Million Capital Campaign: NOMA is actively executing a capital campaign to fund the grand expansion plans.
• 450-Seat Performance Venue: A brand-new, mid-sized performance auditorium designed to host local and national artists.
• On-Site Restaurant: A future full-service restaurant integrated into the entertainment space.
• New Education Building: NOMA has secured nearby land at 25th and Lake Streets to construct a dedicated music education facility.
• Synergistic Growth: The expansion aligns with the North End Teleservices mixed-use development and the upcoming Great Plains Black History Museum site.

• Project Scope: Architectural plans by Holland Basham Architects outline a scale increase from the museum's current 1,200-square-foot footprint inside the historic Jewell Building to between 18,000 and 20,000 square feet, with 7,000 square feet of gallery space across five exhibition areas, a 25-to-30-seat documentary theater, a flexible community learning commons for up to 90 people, a curated coffee shop, a gift store, and climate-controlled archival storage.
• Location: 2221 Lake Street (Historic and Cultural District).
• Financial Pipeline: A $15.2 million capital campaign is actively underway, with approximately 40% of the target secured.
• Timeline: Physical groundbreaking is triggered once fundraising reaches 70% of its milestone.

The Omaha Inland Port Authority acquired a 6-acre site to build a creative construction campus, retail spaces, green areas, and multi-family housing, targeting technology-based trade education with an eye toward 2029 completion.

• Project Scope: A 300-acre economic hub centered on a newly acquired 6-acre anchor site, with a creative construction campus, localized retail zones, community green spaces, and integrated multi-family housing, heavily emphasizing technology-based trade education.
• Financial Pipeline & Incentives: Backed by a foundational $30 million state grant for land acquisition and site preparation. The district also administers Impact Fund Grants ranging from $2,500 to $50,000 to assist neighboring businesses with facade improvements, equipment, and structural expansions.
• Public Engagement: Public board meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month at 9:00 AM at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus (Building 21, Room 112).
• Contact: 4411 Florence Blvd, Unit 001, Omaha, NE 68110 | 402-733-2232 | info@omahaipa.com

• North 24th Street Corridor: Phase 1 of the streetscape master plan covers a 15-block stretch (Ohio to Fowler/Sailor) featuring new sidewalks, lighting, curbs, and trees to improve safety and pedestrian traffic, with work running through early 2027.
• North Omaha Trail (Phase 2): Led by Spark CDI and partners, construction broke ground on an extension stretching from 24th and Ohio streets to the Baby Bob bridge, featuring local cultural artwork and targeted for a 2027 finish.
• Historic Convent Affordable Housing: A historic convent building near Mandela Elementary is being converted into affordable housing units by local developers and Spark CDI to combat regional housing gaps.